Article

2010-04-11 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia Joins the 'Amphib' Club with French Mistral Deal

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Posted by Steve White 2010-04-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 There is no question that the acquisition of the four amphibious warships will substantially enhance Russia's power-projection capabilities. However, Russia is not the only state to have committed to the construction of large-deck amphibious warships. In fact, Moscow's purchase of the Mistrals comes in the context of a global "amphib" splurge. Big "amphibs" are trendy, and the Russians have simply decided to join the club.

The Russian navy only five years ago began phasing out the last of its Pomornik ACV and have been in need of a method of transporting naval infantry short range with some limited fire support and EW support.

Currently, the Pomornik with only nine on their entire inventory is completely inadequate for supporting ground troops for fleet operations, and have been so for a long time.

When Russians deploy marines it is to support the fleet deploying, not "power project."

The only element in this story projecting is the author.

Posted by badanov 2010-04-11 00:36|| 2010-04-11 00:36|| Front Page Top

#2 BadMan pops another nut bubble.

Posted by Shipman 2010-04-11 04:31|| 2010-04-11 04:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Also, unless the amphibs are surrounded by a large fleet of protective aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers and others, they are just big relatively slow targets.
Also, you need a lot of practice to get the amphibious operations right. The US has that practice. Very few other countries do.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2010-04-11 16:18|| 2010-04-11 16:18|| Front Page Top

#4 When the question arises as to where? My guess is that Russia wants to do what China is doing and assert control over isolated islands and their surrounding sea resources. And this could be just about anywhere, from SE Asia to the Arctic.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-04-11 16:36|| 2010-04-11 16:36|| Front Page Top

#5 Do not underestimate the impact the success of the USN's efforts in the tsunami had on other nations. "I gotta have one of dem so we can look good too." And the Mistral is a nice ship. But there's a lot more to the gator navy than buying ships. Training costs $$$$.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2010-04-11 18:12|| 2010-04-11 18:12|| Front Page Top

#6 "Global Amphib Surge"...

Lest we fergit, 1990's NET > 1990's CLINTONISM > among other, [post-Cold War]THE WORLD DEMANDS TO BE ATTACKED AND INVADED BY AMERICA = AMERIKA.

D *** NG IT, WOULDN'T YOUSE KNOW IT, SO MANY AMPHIB OPERATIONS TO BE DONE, NOT ENOUGH LANDING CRAFT!

DR FEELGOOD, OR HOW I LEARNED TO WORRY BY NOT USING THE BOMB!

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ION NOT-THE-MISTARL, WMF/ CHIN MIL BLOGGERS > as a cost-economy measure, desire the PLAN TO "JUMP-START" CHIN'S CARRIER AMBITIONS BY COPYING OR ACQUIRING THE FORMER SOVIET "KIEV" CLASS AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, + CONVERTING SAME TO UV-, SPACE WAR, + BMD-CAPABLE "BATTLESPACE MOTHERSHIPS", to complement other proposed PLAN Carriers.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2010-04-11 19:43|| 2010-04-11 19:43|| Front Page Top

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